Patio chair



June 30, 1970 i c, -r 3,517,964

PATIO CHAIR Filed May 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l @v/ana 6.73mi BY 4T TOENEYS H. C. FLINT PATIO CHAIR June 30, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1968 INYENTOR. Hy/cmd c. $21225 United States Patent 3,517,964 PATIO CHAIR Hyland C. Flint, 3551 Walnut Lake Road, Orchard Lake, Mich. 48033 Filed May 29, 1968, Ser. No. 732,925 Int. Cl. A47d 3/025 U.S. Cl. 297--309 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a seating structure having a seat and a backrest resiliently pivotally movable, in unison, relative to the seat support and having a backrest structure which includes a lower, relatively rigid portion which is resiliently connected to the seat and an upper, relatively resilient portion such that the upper backrest portion is resiliently pivotal relative to the lower portion, and the entire backrest is resiliently pivotal relative to the seat. The resilient connection between the backrest and the seat is such that with increased pivotal movement of the backrest relative to the seat, the resistance to further pivotal movement increases.

The present invention relates to seating structures and, more particularly, to unison action type chairs particularly suited for patio or like uses where light weight and easy mobility are desirable.

One of the prime requisites for a chair or other seating structure is that it be comfortable. This is diflicult to attain where cost is an important factor and particularly for patio furniture and the like where simplicity of construction, light weight, easy mobility and durability under outdoor use conditions are all additional importantrequirements. It is impossible to define precisely what it is that makes a chair comfortable; however, at least one feature which is essential is that the body supporting and contacting portion of the chair be resiliently movable at least to some extent with respect to the ground contactlng support structure. In conventional indoor seating furniture of the uphostered type, this is generally accomplished with a plurality of springs, foam rubber and the like. In seatmg structures of the so-called unison action type, the seat portion and the backrest portion are resiliently movable, in unison, with respect to the ground contacting support structure. This has numerous advantages, one of which is that it enables the use of the framework or support structure of the chair as the flexural elements which allow the resilient movement. Hence, there can be a saving in weight and cost savings as well.

' However, unison action, in and of itself, does not provide the ultimate in comfort. For a high level of comfort, provision must be made for additional relative flexural movements between different portions of the seat and backrest. It might appear that for the ultimate in seating comfort, every portion of the seating area and every portion of the backrest area should be resiliently movable with respect to every other portion as,,for example, in a heavily overstuffed upholstered chair. However, while this does give a temporary feeling of comfort, it has the disadvantage of not providing the necessary body support where required for continued comfort.

One of the principal problems, therefore, in accomplishing a truly comfortable seating structure which provides not just initial comfort but continued comfort is that of providing the right combination of relative, resilient, flexural movements between different portions of the body supporting area of the chair while at the same time providing adequate body support. Another, and perhaps even more serious, problem is that of providing such a 3,517,964 Patented June 30, 1970 ice seating structure which provides a substantially uniform high level of comfort to all persons irrespective of differences in their weight, height and. body structure. Of course, the solutions to these problems are all the more diflicult as regards chairs for patio use and the like where weight, easy mobility and low cost are important factors.

The present invention provides a solution to these problems. That is, the present invention provides a seating structure which enables an optimum combination of relative resilient flexural movements between different portions of the body contacting areas of the seating structure to provide a high level of comfort together with good body support irrespective of the precise weight, height and body structure of the person using the seating structure. Additionally, the seating structure of the present invention lends itself well to use for patio chairs and the like wherein the aforedescribed qualities of light weight, etc., are needed.

Briefly, the seating structure of the present invention comprises a seating a backrest resiliently movable in unison with respect to a support with the backrest having a lower, relatively rigid portion, adjacent the seat and secured to the seat by a resilient connection to enable resilient deflection of the backrest to different angular positions relative to the seat. The backrest has an upper portion resiliently deflectable to different angular positions relative to the lower backrest portion, the angular position of the backrest relative to the seat being unaffected by any load applied to the seat. In addition, the resilient connection of the rigid portion to the seat is such that it progressively further engages the seat as weight is placed against the backrest thereby increasingly resisting further deflection of the resilient connection due to its further engagement with the seat.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved seating structure wherein a backrest is resiliently movable in unison with a seat relative to a support therefor, the backrest having a lower, relatively rigid portion adjacent the seat and secured to the seat by a resilient connection to enable resilient deflection of the backrest at different angular positions relative to the seat, the backrest additionally having an upper portion resiliently deflectable at different angular positions relative to the lower backrest portion with the angular position of the backrest relative to the seat being unaffected by any load applied to the seat.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved seating structure according to the previous object wherein the resilient connection of the rigid portion to the seat progressively further engages the seat as weight is placed against the backrest.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved seating structure wherein the sole connection of the backrest to a seat is through a resilient connection, and this connection increasingly resists further deflection as the resilient connection further engages the seat.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved seating structure wherein the seat includes a series of sinuous spring members suspended thereacross in parallel with respect to a backrest thereby operating independently of the backrest.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved seating structure wherein a resilient wire member forms a backrest, and near one extremity thereof is preformed to a forwardly directed shape thereby forming a support member adapted to provide a headrest.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a support generally designated by numeral is shown, which comprises legs 12 and 14 and a connecting tubular member 16 which serves as an armrest. It is understood that there are two duplicate parallel supports 10.

A seat generally designated by numeral 18, comprises support rails 36 and 38 and can be pivotable at 20 on leg 12 of support 10, respectively, and is resiliently suspended from armrest 16 by engagement of spring 22 with eyelet 24 and 25. Therefore, it becomes clear that seat 18 is pivotally supported from armrest 16 around pivot point 20 and is resiliently supported by spring 22 near another end thereof.

The backrest designated by numeral 26 is carried on seat 18 by bolts 28 passing through turned-back legs 30 integrally formed with a substantially loop-shape resilient wire member 32, the bolts being anchored to a rail 36 and a rail 38 respectively. The engagement of the bolts in the turned-back legs is best seen in FIG. 2, and the overall shape of the wire member 32 is best seen in FIG. 3. Wire member 32 forms the main border frame for back rest 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of sinuous spring members 34 extend transversely of the seating structure between rails 36 and 38 of seat 18. It should also be noted that the sinuous spring members 34 engage only rails 36 and 38 and do not engage wire member 32.

Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of substantially U- shaped resilient wire members 40, 42 and 44 respectively, extend upwardly from a support element or relatively rigid portion 46 into an area 49 enclosed by wire member 32 as it assumes the character of a border frame for the backrest assembly. Wire members 32, 40, 42 and 44 thereby collectively forming a thin line backrest section adapted to receiving a cushion structure 48, as best seen in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, wire member 32, as previously mentioned, is seen as anchored to rails 36 and 38 respectively by the cooperation of bolt 28, turned-back leg 30, and a. metal bracket 50 which guides wire member 32 as it deflects. Starting at this anchoring point and viewing toward the right as wire member 32 appears in FIG. 1, portion 52 of wire member 32 lies substantially flat against rail 36. The wire member 32 then extends rearwardly and upwardly at an angle of less than 45 with respect to the rail 36 in area 54 and provides a resilient connection for rigid portion 46 to seat 18. To the right of area 54, wire member 32 enters rigid portion 46 which extends transversely of the seating structure, engaging the backrest 26 on two sides thereof along the contoured area 56. Contoured area 56 defines the bend in wire member 32 situated between area 54 and portion 52 connected to rail 36, and which extends rearwardly and upwardly at an angle of less than 45 with respect to the rail. A more upright portion 58 of wire member 32 has an angular disposition which abruptly increases above 45 with respect to the rail 36 at an upper end of the rigid portion 46. Therefore, it becomes clear that rigid portion 46 is rigidified in the contoured area 56 of wire member 32, thereby restricting the resilient nature of the wire member in that contoured area. Wire member 32 and, more specifically, area 54 thereof, deflects against rail 36 and more progressively engages the rail when further deflecting. The upper portion 58 of wire member 32 deflects with respect to rigid portion 46 in the area where the wire members angle with respect to rail 36 is greater than 45.

It should be noted that area 54 of wire member 32 deflects downwardly when weight is placed against backrest 26. As more of area 54 extending beyond portion 52 progressively engages rail 36, the effective lever arm is shortened, and the backrest portion resists being tilted any further backward. However, as this resistance to tilting develops, the upper portion 58 of wire member 32 continues to deflect, as before, above rigid portion 46; and, therefore, suflicient resilience is had in this area to comfortably support an occupant in the seating structure.

Near the highest point of upper portion 58, wire member 32 is preformed in area 60 into a forwardly directed shape thereby forming a cushion support that works in conjunction with cushioning 48 to act as a headrest. Cushioning material 62 covers the sinuous wire springs 34 and provides suitable resilient cushioning material for the seat portion 18 0f the seating structure.

Significantly then, it is seen that the seating structure of the subject invention is of very simple metal construction and yet provides more resilient members than the seating structure shown in the prior art and a higher comfort level. For example, when a person sits on seat portion 18, a cushion 62 initially engages a persons body providing a yielding surface. The pressure of the cushioning material 62 results in a flexing of the sinuous wire springs 34 and also results in a certain amount of deflection of spring wire member 32. This spreads the deflection of the springs, previously described, when a person is seated so that the springs 22, which, of course, carry the whole weight of the seat portion 18 to the rear of pivot point 20, can be of a relatively high spring rate due to the resilience previously provided as a person sits on the cushioning material and the sinuous wire strips.

As a person is seated and leans towards backrest portion 26 and puts some weight against the cushioning material 48 thereon, wire member 32 bends or deflects in area 54 while upper portion 58 deflects in the area above rigid portion 46. Again, it is seen that multiple resilient means are provided in that cushioning 48 bears against substantially U-shaped wire members 40, 42 and 44, which are carried by support element 46, thereby causing a different deflection in the center of the seat than near the peripheral upper portion 58. It is obvious that the deflection of upper portion 58 has no relationship to the pivoting movement of area 54 relative to bolt 28, in that the spring rate of area 54 diminishes as more of area 54 contacts rail 36. This, however, is not true of upright portion 58 and the associated spring wire members 40, 42 and 44 in that they deflect at a constant rate above rigid portion 46. In this manner, the subject matter of the present invention serves both to provide various resilient means to cushion the weight of a person in different areas of the body as well as automatically adjusting to weights placed in the seating structure within a wide parameter. This is due, in the first instance, to the interreaction between the sinuous wire members 34 and spring 22; and in the second instance to an inter-reaction between area 54 of wire member 32'and upper portion 58 of wire member 32. In addition, a viewing of FIG. 3 points up the advantage that the upper portion 58 is of a heavier gage spring steel than the wire members 40, 42 and 44; and, therefore, there is a depression formed in the backrest member 26 as an occupant sits in the seat with only the basic backrest resilience being provided by wire member 32.

To more clearly illustrate the various automatic adjustments of the present seating structure, the following examples are given: Assume a person weighing pounds sits in the seating assembly herein described. This 150 pound person can be short or tall. If short, more weight is concentrated near the contoured area 56, and a given lever arm is established relative to moving the backrest rearwardly. If taller, the weight concentration shifts upwardly and backwardly, and a longer lever arm is established relative to moving the backrest rearwardly. Therefore, as the short 150 pound person sits in the described seat, more weight or force is available to deflect portion 54; it being understood that area 54 deflects by a force on an arm running from bracket 50 to portion 60, and portion 58 deflects only by a force on an arm running from area 56 to portion 60. To use a more meaningful description, this short 150 pound person causes a greater deflecting, percentage wise, of area 54 relative to rail 36 than deflection of portion 58 relative to contoured area 56, than a tall 150 pound person who causes a deflection of portion '58 that is greater but a deflecting of area 54 that is less, relatively speaking. To put it still another way, it is obvious that when portion '58 deflects, a force is generated to deflect area 54, but some of the force is absorbed by the deflecting of portion 58 thereby diminishing the force available for pivoting area 54. Therefore, the described seating structure distinguishes between a tall and short 150 pound person.

Continuing the illustration, assume a 200 pound tall or short person is sitting in the subject seat. Spring 22 will extend further than for a 150 pound person, changing the relative angle of rail 36, causing a movement of area 54 downwardly and a movement of portion 58 backwardly and downwardly. The angle of force input to area 54 has not changed appreciably relative to portion 58 due to its being a shorter distance from pivot point 20. This is not true for area 58 because, using a simple vector of forces analysis, the short 200 pound person can exert more force proportionally on portion 58 than the short 150 pound person could because of the change in angle of portion 58 relative to the seat support. A tall person exerts even more force on portion 58. Therefore, area 54 will pivot less proportionally with a 200 pound load in the seat than area 54 does with a 150 pound load due to the higher force absorption proportionally of portion 58. Accordingly, the 200 pound load is automatically distributed so that a great proportional deflection of portion 58 takes place. This shifting of the load is rather subtle but results in a higher relative comfort level than a seat without these capabilities. The same changes take place in a different proportion when the force put goes above 200 pounds or below 150 pounds. Thus it is seen how the undefinable comfort level is increased by use of simple mechanical means. It should be noted that seat 18 takes up the whole load of a persons weight and it is not until the person leans against the backrestthat the various backrest comfort inducers come into play.

In summary, the subject invention provides a seating structure which adapts to different forces applied to a seat by various portions of an individuals body as well as accommodating for varying individual weights of portions of a given persons body. Additionally, the backrest portion and seat portion of the subject invention move vertically in unison, as they are attached, thereby gaining the inherent advantages of a unison action seat. Such versatility in a seating structure is not found in the prior art.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of Words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.

The embodiments of the present invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A seating structure comprising: a support, a seat frame having spaced side rails to define the perimeter of a substantially horizontal seating surface area, the frame being mounted on the support for vertical displacement relative thereto under load, a backrest, resilient means for securing the backrest to the frame for vertical displacement in unison with the frame, said resilient means also permitting angular deflection of the backrest relative to the frame whereby the backrest upon application of a load thereto may assume various angular orientations relative to the frame.

2. A seating structure according to claim 1 including a series of sinuous spring wire members suspended between the side rails in parallel relationship to define said seating surface.

3. A seating structure according to claim 1 wherein said resilient means connection comprises a single loopshape resilient wire member having ends anchored on the seat and extending rearwardly and upwardly at an angle of less than 45 with respect to the seat to a contoured area adjacent said rigid portion where the angle abruptly increases above 45 with respect to the seat thereby forming a border frame for said backrest, said rigid portion including a support element extending transvcrsely of said seating structure engaging said backrest on two sides thereof along said contoured area, and a plurality of substantially U-shaped resilient wire members carried by said support element and extending upwardly therefrom into the area enclosed by said border frame to collectively form a thin line backrest adapted to receive a cushioning structure.

4. A seating structure according to claim 3 wherein said support element engages said loop-shape resilient wire member along said contoured area thereby restricting the resilient nature of said wire member in the contoured area, said wire member thereby deflecting with respect to said seat around the axis of said anchored ends in the area where the upward and rearward extension is less than 45 and further deflecting with respect to said support element and said seat in the area where the upward and rearward extension is greater than 45.

5. A seating structure according to claim 4 wherein said resilient wire member near a top extremity above said contoured area is performed to a forwardly directed shape thereby forming a support for a headrest.

6. A seating structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient means comprises a pair of arcuate spring wire members each having an end secured to a respective side rail such that the spring wire members progressively engage the rails upon variation in the angular position between the backrest and the seat frame.

7. A seating structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient means comprises a U-shaped spring wire member defining the border of the backrest and having spaced ends, the spring wire member being arcuately bent adjacent each of the ends and secured to the side rail such that variation in the angular position of the backrest relative to the frame causes the spring wire members to progressively engage the side rails, and a relatively rigid cross member secured between the ends of the spring wire member adjacent the arcuately bent portions.

8. A seating structure as defined in claim 7 including a plurality of additional U-shaped spring wire members having spaced ends and being of progressively increasing size, the plurality of additional spring wire members being substantially coplanarly connected adjacent the ends to the relatively rigid cross member within the confines of the spring wire member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,315,791 4/ 1943 Hiatt et al 297-308 X 3,143,339 8/ 1964 Flint 267-107 3,332,719 7/1967 Flint 297-309 3,416,839 12/1968 Flint 297309 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,009,417 9/1964 Great Britain.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 297307 

